Clio Harshbarger Friedewald

The day Clio Harshbarger Friedewald was born, the good Lord broke the mold. It is truly hard to summarize the life of a woman who lived such a full life and who was beloved by so many. To summarize Clio’s life: her 81 years were truly LIVED. Clio was a woman ahead of her time who embodied grace and intelligence, beauty and grit, style and humor, resilience and fun, optimism and joy, but most of all, Clio embodied love. Love for her friends and family, love of her beloved Marietta community, love of all types of animals, love of God. Clio never met a stranger: if you met Clio, you knew her as a friend. Her beautiful warm smile and welcoming affect was just contagious. If you were in need of a comforting hug, or an ear to listen, or an uplifting chat, Clio was always there. Clio also loved to throw a good party and was the consummate hostess, while at the same time having as much or more fun than her guests. Clio loved to dance… and she could really dance. In fact, her family named her special style of dancing, “The Clio.” When she heard a good song, like Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” or Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti”, she would lean forward at the waist, bend her knees, raise her arms and do “the Clio:” her own blend of the Twist and the Swing and the Jitterbug. She was transported to her youth, when she and her twin sister, Carla, would sneak into the Royal Peacock club in Atlanta to hear artists like James Brown and Otis Redding. Clio Louise and her twin sister, Carla Jane, were born June 18, 1944 to Emma and Carl Harshbarger in Lima, Ohio, but moved to Marietta, Georgia shortly after their birth. Clio attended Westside Elementary School, Marietta Middle School and Marietta High School, where she was a cheerleader, played basketball, and was the Homecoming Queen. She went to work at the CDC after graduation, where she met her beloved husband, James Wright Friedewald. After they married, the pair moved to Knoxville, Tennessee while Jim attended law school at University of Tennessee. After graduating from law school, Jim was sent to Vietnam and Clio moved back to Marietta to be with her family. Clio wrote at least one letter a day to Jim while she waited for his safe return from Vietnam and to this day, Jim keeps a large box of all her letters in his workshop. Their love was strong and true: a marriage of 58 years. Clio and Jim had one daughter, Carrie Elizabeth Friedewald. Carrie was raised in Marietta as well, and ultimately became a veterinarian, the job of her dreams. Clio provided the model of how to be a loving wife and mother, while balancing home life with work outside of the home. Clio continued to work at the CDC, where she ultimately retired as the Administrator of the National Immunization Program. Shortly after retirement, Clio was blessed with her pride and joy: her granddaughter, Emma Louise Bethel. With Carrie working and building a busy veterinary practice, Clio was able to spend precious time with Emma as she grew and the two became best of friends. Clio wanted Emma to call her Grannie, but when Emma was little, Grannie sounded more like EC when she talked, so Clio ultimately became known as EC. Clio and Emma would spend hours sitting on the large rocks in Clio’s yard, deep in conversation about life: precious time of any grandparent’s dreams. In elementary school, Emma had to write a short essay about her hero. Emma chose Clio as her hero and wrote: “A hero does not have to fly or have super strength. A real hero has a kind heart and has impact on your life. My hero is my grandmother, EC. She has a warm personality, is giving, and is very wise.” Emma ultimately summarized Clio’s life perfectly: a life lived by offering herself, her warm personality and her wisdom to others. Clio passed away unexpectedly at home from a stroke on September 25. During her passing, Jim held his beloved Clio in his arms as she peacefully closed her eyes to this world, her spirit ascending to Heaven to now be in the loving arms of Jesus. Clio kept a favorite poem at her desk, which seems like the closing advice that she would want to share with all her friends and family as we struggle with her loss: “When the storms of life gather darkly ahead, I think of these wonderful words I once read And I say to myself as threatening clouds hover Don’t fold up your wings and run for cover But like the eagle spread wide your wings And soar far above the troubles life brings For the eagle knows that the higher she flies The more tranquil and brighter become the skies… And there is nothing in life God ever asks us to bear That we can’t soar above on the wings of a prayer, And in looking back over the storm you passed through, You’ll find you gained strength and new courage too, For facing life’s storms with an eagle’s wings You can fly far above earth’s small, petty things.” In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marietta, Georgia.

Clio Harshbarger Friedewald

June 18, 1944 - September 25, 2025